A family in Wisconsin is suing Tesla, Inc. for wrongful death after a fiery crash left all five occupants of a Tesla Model S dead, allegedly due to a design flaw that prevented the electric vehicle’s doors from opening after impact.

The lawsuit, filed on Friday in Dane County Circuit Court, claims that Jeffrey and Michelle Bauer, aged 54 and 55 respectively, were trapped inside the burning vehicle because the electronic door system failed after the car’s lithium-ion battery ignited. The couple, residents of Crandon, Wisconsin, died a day after the crash on November 1, 2024, in Verona, Wisconsin, a suburb of Madison.

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Design Flaw Allegations: Tesla Accused of Ignoring Safety Risks

According to the complaint filed by four of the Bauers’ children, the Model S’s design made it impossible for occupants to escape once the vehicle’s electronic systems went offline due to fire. The family alleges that Tesla knew about this potential hazard based on prior incidents involving its vehicles but continued to manufacture models with the same flawed design.

“Tesla’s design choices created a highly foreseeable risk: that occupants who survived a crash would remain trapped inside a burning vehicle,” the lawsuit states.

The complaint further points to the lack of intuitive emergency release mechanisms, particularly for rear seat passengers. Michelle Bauer, a rear passenger, would have had to pull up carpeting to locate a hidden metal lever—a survival step the family argues no one would reasonably know in a time of panic.

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Witness Testimony and 911 Call Detail Harrowing Scene

A nearby homeowner who heard the crash told 911 operators that she could hear people “screaming from within the burning vehicle”, according to the lawsuit. Those final moments, the family argues, could have been avoided if Tesla had taken better safety precautions with its door systems.

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Broader Legal and Safety Concerns: Tesla Faces Multiple Lawsuits

This lawsuit is not an isolated case. Tesla is also facing legal action related to its Cybertruck model after two college students died in a similar crash in California where it’s alleged that the vehicle’s door handles trapped the occupants inside.

In September 2025, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation into defect complaints related to Tesla doors across various models. The probe follows reports of malfunctioning handles that fail to open in emergencies.

Tesla, headquartered in Austin, Texas, and led by CEO Elon Musk, has not yet commented on the Bauer lawsuit.

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Wall Street Response: Tesla Stock Unfazed By Lawsuits

Despite growing safety concerns and legal challenges, Tesla’s stock closed up 2.5% on Monday, signaling that investors remain confident—for now—that the electric vehicle manufacturer will weather the storm.

Meanwhile, the Bauer family seeks compensation for what they describe as preventable tragedies, while drawing attention to what they believe are systemic safety failures in Tesla’s electric vehicle design.